"Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
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Somewhere on the outskirts of Skid Row
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Michael landed behind a brick wall that held the two dumpsters outside an abandoned building. The force of his wings pulling back into their hiding spot, caused the air around him to move inward. The smell alone caused him to scrunch up his nose with disgust. The stench was unbearable. He covered his nose with the inside of his shirt to hide the smell, but sadly it wasn't enough. He quickly made his way around the corner to put some distance between him. As Michael turned the corner, he came face-to-face with Maze. Her phone was out ready to call him.
"Where the Hell are we?" Michael asked.
Maze turned around. No longer in need to know his location, she placed her phone back into her pocket.
"You said you'd be here in five. You're late."
"I had to say goodbye to Ella," he replied. "And! I was told this was an interview. I had to head back to the penthouse and change. I wasn't going to show up in the clothes I left in this morning." He scanned Mazikeen's clothes realizing she hadn't bothered to change. He lifted his eyebrow confused. "Is this not a meeting? Where are we?" He asked. He looked around the area, not at all convinced this was a place for business.
"Drop off area. My contact asked for me to meet him here."
"Contact? You said you had an interview that you wanted me to attend."
"I might have fibbed a little, you got a problem with that?"
"In fact, I do." Michael stepped away from Maze annoyed. "I'm paying you to help me find my children and so far I've come up empty handed with your assistance."
"You paid me to help find your stupid stone. Since the stone is no longer on Earth, our agreement is null. I'm continuing to help, out of kindness. Finding your rugrats is harder than I expected. Like you mentioned this morning, someone is hiding them. The guy we're meeting with in just a little bit deals with stuff like this. So before you go accusing me of coming up empty handed, remember that I'm working every angle imaginable," she snapped.
Michael pulled back his strong demeanor and relaxed. He kept his mouth shut and didn't press on the matter. He knew he overstepped. He nodded his head and took a deep breath.
"I apologize… I'm just frustrated."
"I know you are, but this wouldn't be so hard if you started using your connections in the Silver City. Your monk friend seemed to be handy with the keys Ella lost the other day. Couldn't you have asked this guy for help?"
"No," Michael answered immediately. He shook his head. "No one is to know about my kids. Everyone back home is the last one I'd call in for help."
"You're ashamed of them, huh? What are they, a smudge on your precious honor?"
"I don't give a damn about my honor," Michael snapped. "And no, I'm not ashamed that I have kids."
"Then why haven't you asked them for help on this matter?"
Michael looked forward and let out a heavy sigh. He tucked his hands behind his back.
"One looked at my daughter and they'll see her as a threat... I heard that Remiel paid Amenadiel a visit when she heard about Charlie. Elaine... " He shook his head. "My daughter is nothing like Charlie, she's… well she's special."
"I don't hear anything that would make her a threat," Maze pointed out.
"A child born from my seed, Mazikeen... She's practically a God made flesh. The demiurgos, my power, runs through her veins. Combine that with my brother's and you have someone more powerful than my father. She can start her own universe should she will it." He turned his head and looked at Maze. "Left to the wrong person, she's a weapon… Hence why Sandalphon went to such great lengths to torture me and experiment on all those women he killed."
"He was making an angel that could break into Heaven?"
"He was trying to make an army," Michael corrected.
"You mentioned a son. What about him?"
"Dud," he mumbled. "But he's still my son." The tone in his voice showed he held no love for the boy.
"I heard whispers that Sandalphon never actually did any of the torturing himself. The boy… He tortured you?"
Michael let out a hum. "Raised by demons, what do you expect?"
"We're not all bad, you know that right? We do as we're told. We're only good at torturing because it's all we know."
"And I believe it." Michael cleared this throat before continuing. "My son…" he turned to look at Maze, but decided on facing forward. "He cried his eyes out the first time he drove a knife into my ribs… The second time, he refused and got a black eye for it. I still remember the feel of his tiny hands clinging to my wings for comfort. The third time… he learned his lesson. He bit his lip to prevent the cries from flowing out of his mouth." He looked back at Maze and met her stare. "The fourth time, his face was void of emotion. Demons made him heartless. Spoiled his mind with hate and lies. So yes, I understand your statement. I hold no grudge towards my son. As you said, you do as you're told." He turned his head toward once more.
Maze's facial features softened as the new information came to light. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't imagine doing that to her mother. No matter how angry she was with her.
Michael stood up straight as he noticed a car coming their way.
"Look alive," he voiced.
Maze shook her head and snapped out of the thoughts that were circling her head.
"You're the muscle," she said. "Just let me do all the talking. We're dealing with some pretty sketchy guys. Don't speak unless I address you, yeah?"
"Fine…"
A black SUV pulled up before them. As the car came to a stop, the back seat on the passenger side opened their door. Out stepped a man. A rather tall blonde man, wearing sunglasses. Michael knew exactly who was before him. His eyebrows furrowed together annoyed Mazikeen was doing business with him.
It was the man he blew off at the club the day of his first date with Ella.
"I know him," Michael whispered. "This isn't going to go over well."
"What?" She asked, surprised. She turned her head up toward Michael.
"Mazikeen!" The man called out in a chipper voice. He pulled off his glasses to get a better look at who was standing besides her. When he knew, his face turned serious. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Morningstar. Come to reestablish the deal you so graciously denied?"
Maze looked at Michael silently asking him to keep his mouth shut. Michael did no such thing.
"Mr. Harrison…" Michael went ahead and flashed him a fake smile. "No, I'm afraid I'm here for a different matter."
"Is that so?" He turned to Maze and smiled at her. "Well, I'm sure we can come to an agreement. I'd be happy to help you with your search for your senior citizen, free of charge, if Mr. Morningstar agrees to help me out with my problem?" He turned to Michael and raised his eyebrow. "What do you say?"
"No."
"Yes." Maze's answer contradicting Michael's. Michael looked down at Maze with anger.
"How about I let the two of you hash this out. I'll give you a few minutes to really think about that answer." Liam flashed the pair a smile and turned away. He walked back to his car allowing the pair their privacy.
"I'm not striking a deal with that scum," Michael stated.
"That scum," Maze pointed to the vehicle. "Has intel on all the humans on the witness protection list. The last I heard of Gaudium was during the second great war. That sneaky little cherub is hiding under the United Nations witness protection. We need him, Michael."
"Gaudium would never work with Nazis. You're wrong."
"He doesn't have to be a Nazi to be under their protection. He could have been a spy. He could have been anything. Caine was tracking him, Michael. The trail runs cold after the war. Either the cherub knew he was being tracked or he was panicked. Either way this is the last lead I have to finding Gaudium for you."
Michael let out a sigh. He knew this was probably the last real hope of tracking the cherub. There was nothing he could do. His last hope to finding his children rested in finding Gaudium. It pained him to agree, but Michael knew he had to strike the deal. Disappointed he was stooping to an all time low, Michael hung his head in defeat.
"He better have Gaudium's location on those forms, Mazikeen."
"He promised me he had them," Maze replied. She waved her hand towards the SUV signaling for Liam to come back outside.
"I mean it, Mazikeen. I'm getting roped into something really bad. This was the man I had escorted out of the club a few weeks back. I refused him for a reason."
Liam opened his arms wide with excitement.
"So we have a deal?"
"We have a deal," Michael said with disgust.
"Excellent news!" He walked up to Michael and extended his hand to solidify the agreement. Michael hesitantly extended his hand and shook the man's hand. "Let's take a drive in the car, we can hash out the agreement and go over the files. Do you like champagne? I have some in the car."
Michael turned his head to Maze and signaled her stay behind. The last thing he needed was Liam double crossing them. Before he could enter the vehicle, he asked for the files he had to offer. Liam handed them over without hesitation.
"She doesn't need to be here for the next bit. Our agreement would be better without the extra ears," Michael said.
"I like the way you think, Mr. Morningstar." Liam turned to Maze and tapped at the folder she had in her hands. "I'm sure you'll find I delivered on our end of the deal. Feel free to contact me should you have more questions on the matter. For the meantime, shall we discuss business?" He held the door open for Michael.
The angel clenched his jaw, biting his tongue. He nodded his head and slid himself into the backseat of the car. Michael rolled down the window so he could talk to Maze.
"Look into our rogue cherub. I shouldn't be long," Michael said.
"We'll be over in Alhambra if you want to pick him up. That should be enough time for Lucifer and I to hash out an agreement. What do you think?" He looked over at Michael.
"That's fine. Can we go now?"
"Certainly!" Liam rushed over to the other side of the car and climbed into the back with Michael.
"Get to work, Mazikeen. I'll see you in a few hours."
Maze nodded her head. Liam tapped at the back of the driver seat signaled the driver to roll out. Michael rolled up the window as the car started moving. She waited until the SUV left before taking off.
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Precinct
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Chloe sat in her chair watching Lucifer shuffle through her notes. She had never seen him so focused before. She leaned forward in her seat with her fist under her chin. A smile crept onto her face as she watched his brow pinch together.
"You doing okay?" She asked.
Lucifer hummed involuntarily. He continued to flip through the files of Chloe's murder case trying to find a lead.
"Lucifer?"
"Hmm?" He didn't bother to lift his head. His eyes continued to scan the forms in front of him.
"Lucifer," Chloe called out again. She reached her hand out and steadied Lucifer's movement. He looked up, meeting Chloe face-to-face. "You know you don't have to solve the case today, right?"
"I…" Lucifer let out a sigh. "I suppose you're right…"
"I'm always right." Chloe shot Lucifer with a smile. He smirked in return.
Chloe looked side to side before running her hand down Lucifer's arm so her fingers could glide into his grasp. Lucifer looked down at their joint hands and tightened his grasp over hers. It was the little things like this moment that made his times in Hell so much more bearable.
As an officer passed the two, he thought she would pull away, but instead, Chloe tightened her gasp. Lucifer looked up and smiled at her. The love she held in her eyes was mesmerizing. He wanted nothing more than to reach over the desk and place a kiss on her lips. His eyes trailed down locking in on her mouth. Chloe pulled them back, hiding them from him. She smiled as she knew what he wanted.
"We're working…" She whispered.
"I know that," he whispered back. He looked up, locking eyes with her once more. Instead of fighting her, Lucifer pulled his hand away and went back to the folder in front of him. A smile was on his lips as he noticed her disappointment. "Unless you want to run over to the evidence room?" He said looking through the folder. He looked up with hooded eyes once she failed to respond. The angle of his head stayed locked in place as he tried not to give any sign of excitement.
Chloe opened and closed her mouth, shocked he had even offered such a request. She wanted to. She badly wanted to take him up on the offer. She wanted to be whisked away by him, but she knew she needed to put business forward and pleasure aside.
Seeing her internal struggle, Lucifer answered for her.
"We'll put a pin in this until we leave, but once we reach the elevator…" He smirked at her. "Freedom to kiss you, darling?"
"Absolutely."
"Brilliant."
The imaginary clock was set.
Lucifer's eyes turned back to the pages in the folder and got back to the task at hand. Chloe leaned back into her chair and went back to looking at her emails. It was another twenty minutes before Lucifer opened his mouth to question her. He pushed the folder toward Chloe pointing to a piece of evidence he wanted to know more about.
"I understand that your first victim was an opera singer. She was found with…" He tilted his head off to the side. He got up from his seat and stood over Chloe. Looking down at the folder with her, he pointed at the bouquet of flowers "White stargazer lilies? That's a rare flower to be placed in someone's hands, don't you think?"
"That's the same thought I had when I arrived at the crime scene… but I've checked out all the local flower shops and no one has been able to give me any information on our killer. It seems our guy pays with cash and frequent multiple stores." Chloe pulled out a photo to show Lucifer. "Have you seen the photos on the second victim?"
"The elementary school teacher," Lucifer said.
"Yeah… Same M.O. The crime scene was exactly the same. The only thing out of the norm was glitter, but Ella figured it was from the teacher. You know, seeing as she's a school teacher."
"Hmm… How far apart are these killings?"
"Mmm… almost a month," Chloe calculated. "Give or take a few days. We've been on the look out for a new body. My gut is telling me a new body will drop any day now."
"Have you been able to find out from any other department if this killer has been active anywhere else?"
"I called one of my old friends who works for the F.B.I. He hasn't gotten back to me just yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for his email." She pointed at the screen on her desktop. "I've been checking all morning."
"So you think our killer has been active before as well?" Lucifer asked.
"Well yeah… these killings are too clean. No fingerprints. No forced entry. It's like our victims knew the killer. Dan and I interviewed the people involved in the first victims' life. We thought we had our killer, but it turned out to be a dead end. We've looked through our victims calls lists and nothing stands out. We've questioned their family and no one knows a thing. These victims are unconnected." Chloe leaned over and looked at the evidence. "I've been trying to figure out a connection for weeks, but nothing…"
"Looking at the details on these evidence reports, it seems Miss Lopez knew the exact method in which your killer executed these deaths."
Chloe nodded her head. "Ella discovered that the deaths are administered through a high dose of muscle relaxants right before the killer cuts their vocal cords."
"They choked on their own blood?" Lucifer asked.
"Yeah… The killer repeated the process with our second victim to the exact same detailing. He has a signature, so all signs point to us dealing with a professional."
Lucifer let out a hum as he looked back at the files in front of them. He pulled the photos up of the two victims. He was unfazed by the gruesome pictures. He placed them side by side going over the detailing Ella had to offer. When he found something, he pointed to the second victim's photo. His finger was directed to the glitter Chloe brought up earlier.
"He's a professional right?"
"That's what I'm getting from the crime scene."
"Why allow glitter in the area when it offsets the layout from the first?" Lucifer asked. He pulled up his chair and sat down. He put the two different photos in front of him, analyzing them.
"Ella seems to think he's leaving clues."
"Why glitter?"
Chloe shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know." Lucifer nodded his head. It was a far fetched question that only the killer could answer. He didn't really expect Chloe to know. It was more a rhetorical question.
"Have you looked into the stores that sell the flowers?"
"Yeah… But as I said earlier, our guy pays in cash. He seems to pick flower shops that don't have a security system. We've put out a warning to any shop selling white stargazer lilies to notify us should someone make a purchase. Right now, it's just a waiting game."
Lucifer nodded his head. He went ahead and placed the photos back in the folder. Just as he was about to close it, something came to him. "What if he grows them himself?" Lucifer suggested.
"I…" Chloe crocked her head to the side, interested. "That's a possibility. What gave you that idea?"
Lucifer shrugged his shoulders. "He's a professional. Something tells me, he's playing with you guys. He's making you run around in circles. I was reading the reports you and Daniel wrote up and it took the both of you two weeks to eliminate your first victim's suspects. As you started to move away from… What was the opera singer's name." He snapped his finger, kicking himself for not knowing the name off the top of his head.
"Neils Schuman," Chloe said.
"Yes! Once you moved away from him, I noticed the next body dropped. It might just be a coincidence, but something about this screams out to me. I can't put my finger on it." Lucifer went quiet, he was too busy trying to make sense of Chloe's case. He shoved his index finger into the folder when the thought ran cold. "I'd look into your contact at the F.B.I, something tells me this guy is using Los Angeles as his playground."
"I will…" Chloe looked up at Lucifer in awe.
Lucifer shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts. He looked up at Chloe and frowned as he noticed her smile.
"What?" He said.
She shook her head. "I don't think I've ever seen you so invested in one of my cases before. I just missed this. It's nice having you back at my side, helping with the case."
"I missed this as well," he chuckled. "I'm half tempted to stay and help with this case of yours."
"So stay," she suggested. "I mean… if that would be okay." She pulled back, afraid she was being too clingy. "You said Lilith was doing good with everything… maybe you can stay a little longer?"
"I…" Lucifer skewed his mouth to the side. He wasn't sure she would want him around after he got done filling her in with her existence. He didn't come back to help with her case. He came to clear things up with Chloe before he came back for good. When he took too long to answer, Chloe shook her head.
"You know what… it's fine. I know you still have things to clear up in Hell. Don't worry." Chloe started packing up the folder with all the crime reports. She was trying to end the conversation.
"That's not… Detective…"
"No, no. I know you were joking. It's only like what? A week left? I can totally wait."
"Detective…"
Chloe shook her head.
"Chloe…"
She stopped her movement and looked up at Lucifer.
"How about we see how the day plays out and if you still want me to stick around by the end, I'll stay. Yeah?"
"Oh… okay. Yeah, we can do that."
A spark of happiness ignited in her stomach. She flashed Lucifer a smile, extending her hand out to grab onto his hand. He squeezed her hand and flashed her a smile that didn't seem to reach his eyes. He hid it well as he pulled her hand up to place a kiss on top. Before either of them could say anything else, a man poked out of his office and called out Chloe's name.
"Decker! My office now. I have a few things to run by you before lunch," the Lieutenant called out.
Chloe quickly pulled her hand away and turned around in the direction of the man's office.
"Coming, Lieutenant!" She whispered her apologies to Lucifer and walked away. "I'll be right back."
"Can't I go with you?" He called out.
She shook her head, "I'll be right back. Keep an eye out for the email, yeah?"
She was already outside the Lieutenant's office. She poked her head inside waiting for him to invite her in. As she disappeared into the office, Lucifer let out a sigh. He looked over at the desktop, moving the mouse to check for any incoming emails, but there was nothing. He didn't know what else to do, so he looked around the bullpen. Dan was nowhere to be seen. Typically. He's probably out eating. Lucifer shook his head. He picked himself up out of the chair and figured he could stretch his legs.
As Lucifer walked around the bullpen, shaking out all the stiffness in his legs, Lucifer directed his attention over to Ella's office. The young woman was walking around her room with a smile on her face. Interested in understanding why, Lucifer beelined over immediately. As he got closer, he noticed she was smiling down at her phone. He squinted his eyes knowing she was never the one to be on her phone. He brought his hand up and knocked his knuckles against the doorframe. The knock went unnoticed as she was still directing all of her attention to the phone. Lucifer tried again.
"Ugh… One minute," she called out.
Lucifer stood tall. As he watched, Ella let out a soft chuckle before flipping her phone over and laying it on top of her work desk. Once she looked up, she shot Lucifer a bright smile.
"You don't have to knock, silly. What's up?" She beckoned him inside.
Lucifer pushed his feet forward and entered the room. His eyes stayed on her phone as he walked over towards her. Seeing that the Devil had other motives, Ella picked the phone up and placed it into her back pocket.
"I just thought I'd come by and check in with you. You know… see how you were doing."
Lucifer circled the room, trying to sneak the phone out of her pocket. Ella quickly caught on and kept herself facing forward as he walked by. Disappointed he'd been found out, Lucifer brought a stool up and plopped himself onto the seat.
"So how are you doing?" He asked again.
Ella let a smirk pull both ends of her lips. She gave Lucifer a playful hit to the shoulder.
"I'm doing good. A little frazzled due to the workload, but overall I'm pretty good." The latest two words coming out exaggerated and emphasized. She placed a hand on her hips. Her free hand extended, tapping the back side of her hand on Lucifer's chest. "How are you doing? Are you getting excited to finally put your family business behind you?"
"Not a family business, but I am happy actually," Lucifer stated. He relaxed into his seat and offered the stool in front of him. Ella took the seat besides Lucifer. His smile only grew brighter as they were allowed the opportunity to talk.
"That's good! I know Michael is pretty excited to have you back. No doubt Chloe is ecstatic as well.
"Michael is excited to have me back?" That surprised him.
"Yeah! He's always talking about the two of you hanging out and getting back to the good ol' days. For someone that didn't tell me you had a twin, I wouldn't think the two of you were close..." She leaned forward and punched Lucifer square in the arm.
"Ow!" He yelped.
"No quella, ow! That's for not telling me you had a twin brother."
Lucifer cradled the arm she had just hit. He massaged the area, making her feel bad.
"I had a falling out with siblings when my father sent me away… Besides Amenadiel, I haven't really talked to my other siblings. It's why I don't talk about them."
"Oh…" The tone in her voice got soft. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean… my bad." Ella felt bad for bringing the topic up.
"No, you're fine." Lucifer brushed it off. "Although, I've heard I should have warned everyone about Michael." He let out a chuckle. "I heard about the Detective and Daniel's first meeting, but I didn't think the two of you had a bad first meeting."
"We didn't… it was actually rather nice," she mumbled. "But that's besides the point."
"And the point being?" Lucifer asked.
"A little warning!"
Lucifer looked at her, not even phased. He simply shrugged his shoulder dismissing her irritation. Ella responded with a soft shove. The two let out a fit of chuckles as they knew the other was playing around.
"So…" Lucifer sang out. He tapped his palm against the table. "You and my brother?" His eyes motioned to her hip where the phone was in her back pocket.
"What about Michael and I?" Ella tried to hide a smile on her face.
"Was that who you were texting?"
"And if it was?" Ella teased. The smile she was trying to contain was slowly growing harder to hide.
Lucifer let a smirk befall his lips. He shrugged his shoulders already getting his answer. "Just asking, that's all. I was informed about your relationship last night when I got into town… I have to say, the both of you looked rather close before he left."
"We kissed. What's so bad about that?"
Lucifer shrugged his shoulder. "Nothing, I suppose."
"Then?"
Lucifer shot her a genuine smile. "It's just news to me… I'm happy... I'm happy the two of you can put a smile on the other's face. I haven't seen him smile this much in quite some time. The last we saw one another… Well, it wasn't on the best of terms."
"How so?" Ella asked.
"I uh… I'm not sure how much my brother has shared with you about his past. It's something I think he'd rather have told himself and not by me. If that's okay."
"No, yeah… I understand." Ella brushed off Lucifer's comment.
Although Michael and her had talked a lot about their past, she knew there were some things he kept close to his chest. Much like she did. She hadn't told him everything, so it was only fair he had his secrets as well.
"It's nice to see the two of you smiling. That's what I'm trying to say. It looks good on the two of you," Lucifer said.
"Why thank you." Ella smiled at Lucifer's words. "I can say, it is nice seeing him smile. He was a little bit of a grumpy pants the few times I saw him around Lux. Once he introduced himself, I noticed it was just a front. He's really a sweetheart hiding under that smolder."
"A sweetheart?" Lucifer chuckled. "Greatest left hook in the Silver City and you call him a sweetheart?" He shook his head. He couldn't wait to tease Michael about becoming soft.
"What?" Ella asked. She pushed Lucifer not sure why he was laughing. "It's not bad to be nice. You come off intimidating with your strong demeanor, but I know you are just one big ol' teddy bear."
"I am not a teddy bear!" Lucifer objected.
"Are too," Ella smiled.
Lucifer let out a scuff. He flapped out the lapels to his jacket, followed by correcting his cufflinks.
"I'm a bloody enigma, not some soft lovable plush toy," he mumbled.
"Sure…" Ella teased. She watched Lucifer try to control the smile that started to overtake his face. He knew she was right. "I missed this… I miss you talking nonsense and me having no idea what you're talking about. It's like you've never been gone."
"I don't spout nonsense. You just refuse to open your eyes and widen your waxed covered ears to my endless vocabulary."
"Whatever you say, Lucifer."
Lucifer shook his head. There was a reason he came over to her work space, he wasn't sure how he got sidetracked so fast.
"So he's being a gentleman? He's treating you well?"
Ella tilted her head to the side. She had not expected Lucifer to play the protective brother card. She held back a smile and she nodded her head.
"Of course. He's been nothing but one."
"As he should," Lucifer added.
"Anything else you would like to know?"
"A few more things actually."
Ella chuckled, "oh, alright." She sat up tall and smiled at him. "Right well, fire away."
"Right… Where do I begin?"
Ella bit back a smile as she watched Lucifer try to intimidate her. She was in no way falling for it. Just as he was about to open his mouth and start asking questions. Chloe walked into the room.
"I just got a possible lead with the florist shop. Cocozza stopped me in the hall, I thought I told you to stay at my desk, Lucifer."
"I…" He looked from Ella to Chloe.
Chloe rolled her eyes. She knew it was a lost cause to have him stay in one spot.
"It's fine. Cocozza said someone called in about a guy buying a bouquet of white stargazer lilies. Did you want to tag along?"
"Sure."
"Our guy?" Ella asked.
"Slim chance, but I have my fingers crossed," Chloe replied. She looked between the two realizing she might have interrupted something important. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No, you're good. We were just talking shop. You know, catching up. Lucifer is all yours." Ella shot Chloe a wink as Lucifer was facing forward. "You just saved me from a mess of questions I'm sure I would have regretted."
"Did you really come in here to bombard Ella with questions, Lucifer?" Chloe asked.
"They were harmless questions, Detective."
"Mhm, sure…" She motioned for him to stand from his seat. The Devil did as he was instructed and pulled himself off the stool. "I got your back, Ella, don't worry."
"I'm right here," Lucifer spoke up.
"I know you are." Chloe pushed him out of the room before he could have anything else to say. "I hope he wasn't asking too many intruding questions."
"Oh no, it's all good," Ella said. She waved her hand about. "I miss having my brothers up in my face about a guy I was seeing. With Lucifer he's like my estranged brother. It's nice to have someone acting protective and watching out for me."
"I watch out for you," Chloe said.
"No, I know. I was just saying it's nice. A little weird because it's Lucifer and he looks exactly like Michael," she chuckled, "but it's nice."
"I get ya. I'll take him off your hands for a few hours. Try to see if you can get me that new toxicology report on the second victim. I swear there's something new our killer is trying. Something the coroner didn't see."
"Yeah, I can run the report again and give you a more detailed analysis. Do you want me to drop it on your desk?"
"Please." Chloe turned around and found Lucifer messing with the flowers on her desk. She rolled her eyes and smiled back at Ella. "I swear it's like he never left. He slipped right back into his old ways."
"You have to admit, it is nice to have him back. I haven't seen you smile this much."
"I smile plenty…"
Ella shot Chloe a look. She crossed her arms over her chest to show that wasn't true.
"Fine. I don't smile enough…"
"It's cute. The twins have this aura around them. I was always down and depressed before Michael came along, now I'm back to my normal self. Lucifer is back and you're smiling a lot more. Maybe they are angels. Our own gift from God," Ella jokes.
Chloe smiled at the thought. She leaned against the doorframe and watched Lucifer reorganize her desk as he waited for her to rejoin him. She let a smile spread across her face. Although he was the Devil, he was first an angel. He was still an angel. She'd seen his beautiful white wings. Maybe he was a gift from God. She turned back to Ella and tapped her shoulder with hers.
"Well if Lucifer is a gift, I'm sure Saint Michael was personally wrapped for you." Chloe chuckled. "God must have taken your loss of faith in him pretty hard."
"Don't say that! Don't even joke," Ella replied. Her face dropped at the possibility.
"I was joking Ella. Michael wasn't sent by God. I'm pretty sure Lucifer can attest to that for you."
"Not you too, Chlo."
Chloe shrugged her shoulders. She started walking backwards away from Ella. "I gotta go check out that floral shop order, but I'll catch you before you leave from work."
"Mhm... I'll make sure to have that write up on your desk before the end of the day."
"Thank you!" Chloe turned around and slapped Lucifer's hands away from her snacks in her desk. "Nuh uh. Don't touch my fruit bars."
"But I'm starving," he whined.
"We just ate not too long ago."
"Four hours ago." He plucked the snack from her hands. "And if I remember correctly you ate half of mine."
"We got two completely different orders. I wanted to try some of yours."
"Try, not demolish it all by yourself."
Chloe shoved him for being a big baby. The two chuckled together at their childish argument.
"You need to learn how to share," Chloe said.
"Who says?"
"Me."
"Is that so?" Lucifer leaned into her personal space. He was inches from her lips. His eyes looked down and back to her eyes.
"Not here," she warned.
"Why not? We could go into the interrogation room, can we not?"
"Lucifer!" She whispered.
His fingers ghosted along the edge of her blouse. His eyes were on her lips, watching them closely.
"No?" He asked.
"We have a lead to get to," she said.
"Kiss in the elevator?"
"I…" She bit her bottom lip. She badly wanted to kiss him. It's all that she thought about since she saw him in the briefing room. She dared to look up at his face. Once she did, she knew she lost the battle. "Fine…"
Lucifer grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her toward the stairs. The two could be heard giggling as they made their way up. Lucifer quickly tapped on the elevator button, adding up to at least a dozen clicks. He kept pressing on it until the doors opened. Just as he was about to pull her inside, a swarm of people blocked their entry.
"Right, come on. We all have places to go," Lucifer voiced. He started rolling his arm in a circle like he was trafficking cars.
A few officers scuffed at Lucifer's impatient nature. Once the officer piled out, Lucifer pulled her inside. As the doors closed, Lucifer pulled Chloe close to him. His lips were immediately on her.
A soft gasp escaped her mouth as Lucifer walked her into the wall of the elevator. Her back was pressed against the cool metal as his lips requested access to her mouth. She hummed against his lips granting him his request. Her hand ran up his chest, along his neck, and against the side of her face.
An excitement fluttered at the bottom of her stomach. She felt like a teenager making out with the bad boy in school. She smiled against his lips and relished in the feel of his hands gripping onto her hips, pulling her close to him.
"Lucifer…" Chloe warned. "The doors are going to open any second."
Lucifer's breath was hot on her neck. His lips kissed along her skin as he pried his mouth of hers. A soft whine escaped his throat as he heeded Chloe's words.
"You're right…" He backed away and tried to calm his excitement.
Chloe tried to contain a smile as she watched Lucifer try to correct himself. Her lips were tucked behind her teeth. Lucifer shot her a smile as he noticed he got a little too over eccentric.
"You good?" She asked.
"I got a little ahead of myself," he chuckled.
"That's okay," she smiled. "I liked it."
"Did you now?" He turned on her side with a wicked smile on his lips. He was about to step back into her personal space when the elevator doors opened.
"After you, handsome."
"Ooo!" Lucifer purred. "Handsome?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Out ya goof."
"Alright, alright." Lucifer dragged his feet out of the elevator so they could get to their destination. "My car or yours?"
"You brought the corvette?"
"Of course I did," Lucifer smiled. He dug into his pocket and spun the key around his index finger. "Corvette or...?"
"Oh! We're definitely taking the corvette. No question."
"That's my girl!" Lucifer praised her. He leaned over and gave a quick peck to her cheek.
"Wanna drive?"
Chloe stopped dead in her tracks, shocked. Lucifer noticed the lack of footsteps and stopped immediately.
"Detective?"
"You offered… you never let anyone drive the corvette."
"You're not just anyone," he clarified. Lucifer shot her a genuine smile.
"I…" Her heart started to flutter. She shook her head and accepted the offer Lucifer had given her. She walked up to him and placed a kiss on his lips. "I'd love to drive."
"You know how to drive it, yes?"
"Of course."
"Then, you may speed down this city in my black chariot." He placed the keys in her hands and escorted her over to his car.
Chloe skipped with excitement. She'd always wanted to drive the corvette, but never thought he'd allow her the opportunity to drive it. As she walked up to the car, Lucifer opened the door for her. She graciously accepted the gesture and climbed into the car. Lucifer closed the door behind her and rushed over to the passenger side.
Chloe placed the keys into the ignition and smiled as the car purred to life. Her hands rubbed against the steering wheel and smiled with glee. Lucifer did the honors and turned on the radio. The loud blaring of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" played out of the speakers at full volume. Chloe shook her head as she knew who's music taste was blasting out of the speakers. Michael's prints were all over it. She moved the stick shift and put it into reverse. Lucifer relaxed into his seat as he placed his sunglasses on.
.
Precinct Across Town
.
"Alright buddy, I'm going to need you to calm down," an officer said as they dragged Michael through the bullpen.
"I am calm!" Michael snapped. "It's your confounded iron clasps that need to be loosened."
"And I told you, I can't loosen them until you're processed and questioned. Now sit down while I get my superior and start on your paperwork." He sat Michael down a chair on the side of an empty desk. The officer stepped away as he left Michael to calm down.
Michael placed his cuffed hands on his lap while he looked around the foreign bullpen. He was already trying to plan his escape. As a loud commotion came from the entrance way, Michael directed his attention to the noise. Liam was thrashing around in anger as a few police officers tried to shove him along.
"I told you that fuckin' wacko flipped my car! I don't see why I'm the one being detained."
"You punched an officer at the crime scene," one clarified.
"And then you tried to flee the scene," another added.
"Did you see that guy?" Liam called out. "They call him the Devil you know, it's not just a schtick. The guy is actually the Devil!"
Michael rolled his eyes. All he did was show him his fears and the man freaked out. As soon as they came closer to Michael, Liam stopped dead in his tracks and started kicking his feet erratically as the officer held him up.
"No! No! Get him away from me!"
Michael just waved his hand innocently.
"Come on! We have to get you processed."
"I said no!" Liam cried out hysterically.
"Brian!" An officer called out for assistance.
"Coming!"
"No! No! No! No!"
The three officers escorted Liam across the bullpen away from Michael. The poor man's cries could still be heard as they dragged him across the room. Michael shook his head.
"Well, if it isn't Lucifer Morningstar…"
Michael turned his head and looked up at a large man in front of him. The first thing he noticed was the man's large gut. Michael pushed his seat back to give himself some room.
"I'm not actually Lucifer," Michael explained.
"Then who are you?"
"The name is Michael. I'm Lucifer's twin brother," Michael clarified.
The man let out a loud chuckle. He gripped onto his coffee cup and smiled down at Michael.
"Oh, your parents must have been a couple of nut cases."
"They're okay," Michael responded. He shrugged his shoulders not at all interested in the conversation this man wanted to have with him.
"Rodriguez, the officer that arrested you, informed me you were a part of a car accident. Want to explain to me how a car flips on the I10 freeway?"
"Bad driving?" Michael suggests.
"Mr. Harrison claims you blacked out the windows sending the driver into a panic."
"Ludicrous," Michael replied.
"Now, I know mystery clouds your brother. So I wouldn't put it past the guy to be telling the truth. What I want to know is should I have my guys do a background check on you to see why you were hanging around this guy in the first place."
"Would you believe me if I said I was being held against my will?" Michael flashed the man a fake smile.
"No…" He looked Michael up and down. "I'm sure if I did have my guys run a background check on you, I'd find a clean record. No doubt your brother would have had the information expunged from your record."
"I'm sorry. Is there a personal vendetta you have against my brother? Because I don't see how he relates to my situation right now."
The man squinted his eyes, not at all happy to be talked down to by Michael.
"Apologies, Mr. Morningstar."
"It's Prince," Michael stated.
"Excuse me?"
"You addressed me as Morningstar. My last name is Prince."
"Oh! Well I'm so sorry your majesty." He gave Michael a curt nod to annoy him.
"Is there a reason I have the pleasure of having you grace me with your presence?"
The man lifted his cup up to his lips, having himself a drink before answering.
"I'm simply making small talk, Mr. Prince." He pulled out a notepad looking over the details he had written from earlier. "I heard you asked Officer Rodriguez to contact Detective Decker. Smart of you."
"She's my sister-in-law. I have a right to call anyone I'd like."
"But you didn't call your brother?"
"What's your obsession with my brother, Mr.?" Michael asked.
"Urias. Captain Urias," he stated.
Captain Urias placed his hand on his belt buckle. For a large man, Michael was surprised he even knew where it was.
"And again I don't have anything against your brother, Mr. Prince. I'm just interested in the connections that your brother possesses. I'll be sure to discuss your situation with Detective Decker in my office when she arrives. For the meantime, relax. Enjoy the smell of burnt coffee and tacky body spray."
The man turned in his heels and left Michael all to himself. The angel relaxed into his chair and let his head rest against the back of the chair he was sitting on.
Some morning this has shaped out to be.
He closed his eyes as he tried to block out the noise that was filling the bullpen.